China Eastern 77W First Class, Shanghai-Chicago
Jan 20, 2017, 11:01 am
#1
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Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: YYC - not the centre of the universe
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Posts: 4,768
China Eastern 77W First Class, Shanghai-Chicago
China Eastern First Class, Shanghai-Chicago
When I was pondering options to get to Indianapolis from Shanghai, I realized that China Eastern flew to Chicago with their new 777-300ER, which includes a first class cabin of only six seats. Trying new airlines is always fun, and since this routing was quite direct, I had it booked. Mind you, the fare was very expensive, comparable with excellent airlines such as Cathay Pacific.
There were no reviews of China Eastern First class, mainly there were renderings on the internet of what the cabin should look like, along with one picture someone took on their way through First into business.
However, there were a few reviews of China Eastern's business class offering. These were overwhelmingly negative, with wide-ranging problems: from inedible food to the smell of cigarette smoke. I was on the verge of cancelling the flight and rebooking on a tried and tested airline but decided against it - what is the fun of flying something you already know well? I was going to be the guinea pig for this product.
One interesting aspect of this flight was the schedule, which originally indicated an excessively long flying time. This was adjusted some months prior to departure - the incorrect timings were most likely a result of the period of daylight savings switchover. The new flight times were still something unique - the departure and landing times were exactly the same - November 9, 11:40 am departure, November 9, 11:40 am arrival.
--
I would have tried the Maglev on the way to the airport, but a driver was already booked. Traffic wasn't bad, and the driver pulled up to the terminal, where our China trip "handler" was ready for us, simply to accompany us to the checkin desks!
Soon enough we found the China Eastern First Class checkin area, which was an area separated by a wall and decorated with deep-blue carpets and live mini-trees. This was an encouraging start!
The check-in desks were sit-down, another nice touch.
I asked the check-in agent to add our United connection to Indianapolis to the baggage tag - which was done without issue and with a smile. She also inquired about our seat preferences - we were offered two windows on the left-hand side or the single pair of middle seats - I asked for the latter, especially since China Eastern is one of two airlines which has a "double bed" in the centre seats. We were informed there were four passengers in First class - I was curious if that would stick and if we would encounter self-upgrades during flight.
She also immediately called for an escort to take us to the First Class lounge - again, big points for that.
(and no, I do not know why she has a wrench on her desk - all I can say is "this is China")
...to be continued.
When I was pondering options to get to Indianapolis from Shanghai, I realized that China Eastern flew to Chicago with their new 777-300ER, which includes a first class cabin of only six seats. Trying new airlines is always fun, and since this routing was quite direct, I had it booked. Mind you, the fare was very expensive, comparable with excellent airlines such as Cathay Pacific.
There were no reviews of China Eastern First class, mainly there were renderings on the internet of what the cabin should look like, along with one picture someone took on their way through First into business.
However, there were a few reviews of China Eastern's business class offering. These were overwhelmingly negative, with wide-ranging problems: from inedible food to the smell of cigarette smoke. I was on the verge of cancelling the flight and rebooking on a tried and tested airline but decided against it - what is the fun of flying something you already know well? I was going to be the guinea pig for this product.
One interesting aspect of this flight was the schedule, which originally indicated an excessively long flying time. This was adjusted some months prior to departure - the incorrect timings were most likely a result of the period of daylight savings switchover. The new flight times were still something unique - the departure and landing times were exactly the same - November 9, 11:40 am departure, November 9, 11:40 am arrival.
--
I would have tried the Maglev on the way to the airport, but a driver was already booked. Traffic wasn't bad, and the driver pulled up to the terminal, where our China trip "handler" was ready for us, simply to accompany us to the checkin desks!
Soon enough we found the China Eastern First Class checkin area, which was an area separated by a wall and decorated with deep-blue carpets and live mini-trees. This was an encouraging start!
The check-in desks were sit-down, another nice touch.
I asked the check-in agent to add our United connection to Indianapolis to the baggage tag - which was done without issue and with a smile. She also inquired about our seat preferences - we were offered two windows on the left-hand side or the single pair of middle seats - I asked for the latter, especially since China Eastern is one of two airlines which has a "double bed" in the centre seats. We were informed there were four passengers in First class - I was curious if that would stick and if we would encounter self-upgrades during flight.
She also immediately called for an escort to take us to the First Class lounge - again, big points for that.
(and no, I do not know why she has a wrench on her desk - all I can say is "this is China")
...to be continued.
Jan 20, 2017, 11:13 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: YYC - not the centre of the universe
Programs: AC*S100K 1MM, LH FTL, Hyatt Globalist, Accor Plat
Posts: 4,768
The guide arrived moments after checkin was completed, and took us, along with one other passenger, through all the formalities without any lines - quite a bonus at an airport like Pudong. During this process, we became friends with the other passenger, who was a regular China Eastern passenger from New York. Curious what to expect, we asked whether the food was edible. In his opinion, it certainly was edible and the service was good - though he mentioned he had never experienced the escort through to the lounge.
The entrance to the lounge floor was guarded by two staff members, who let us in immediately since we were with the guide.
After going up one floor, there was another set of doors with more guards stationed there:
The lounge is used by the following airlines:
We were warmly welcomed by the attendants, who stood up to greet us, and pointed us to the right, towards the First Class lounge. Another big bonus - I did not expect a separate and true First Class lounge from a Chinese airline.
Turning right, there is yet another desk, this time we were not required to show boarding passes.
Speaking of boarding passes, China Eastern has to have one of the coolest ones out there, with two stubs, one on each side:
The lounge, arranged as one long room, was new, heated (not a certainty in China!), and had nice seating areas. Befitting a true First Class lounge, it was also very quiet.
In the middle of the lounge was a bar:
This was nicely stocked and the alcohols beautifully presented.
At the farthest point of the lounge was the buffet, noodle bar, and tables for eating. As I had just had breakfast at the Park Hyatt, I didn't try any of the offerings.
Buffet:
I liked the napkins, "welcome to this flight":
Noodle bar:
There was also a fridge with cold drinks:
Also nice were the cups, symmetrically arranged and with the airlines' logo underneath:
There was no TV blaring throughout the lounge, but there was a muted China Eastern 77W advertisement playing, which was professionally produced and highly romanticized.
The flight information display was clear and easy to understand.
On the opposite end of the lounge was a relaxation area, equipped with massage chairs:
The entrance to the lounge floor was guarded by two staff members, who let us in immediately since we were with the guide.
After going up one floor, there was another set of doors with more guards stationed there:
The lounge is used by the following airlines:
We were warmly welcomed by the attendants, who stood up to greet us, and pointed us to the right, towards the First Class lounge. Another big bonus - I did not expect a separate and true First Class lounge from a Chinese airline.
Turning right, there is yet another desk, this time we were not required to show boarding passes.
Speaking of boarding passes, China Eastern has to have one of the coolest ones out there, with two stubs, one on each side:
The lounge, arranged as one long room, was new, heated (not a certainty in China!), and had nice seating areas. Befitting a true First Class lounge, it was also very quiet.
In the middle of the lounge was a bar:
This was nicely stocked and the alcohols beautifully presented.
At the farthest point of the lounge was the buffet, noodle bar, and tables for eating. As I had just had breakfast at the Park Hyatt, I didn't try any of the offerings.
Buffet:
I liked the napkins, "welcome to this flight":
Noodle bar:
There was also a fridge with cold drinks:
Also nice were the cups, symmetrically arranged and with the airlines' logo underneath:
There was no TV blaring throughout the lounge, but there was a muted China Eastern 77W advertisement playing, which was professionally produced and highly romanticized.
The flight information display was clear and easy to understand.
On the opposite end of the lounge was a relaxation area, equipped with massage chairs:
Jan 20, 2017, 11:49 pm
#6
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: PHX
Programs: AAexp, AC75k, HertzPC, NationalEE, Accor/MariottP, Hilton/HyattG
Posts: 3,614
Looking forward to this! I flew MU before in J(it was cheap lol) and the food was indeed terrible.
I see your schedule is still insane!!! I recently relocated to YYC so maybe I'll have the honour of running into you again
SKYEG
I see your schedule is still insane!!! I recently relocated to YYC so maybe I'll have the honour of running into you again
SKYEG
Jan 21, 2017, 12:06 am
#7
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Join Date: Dec 2009
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Jan 21, 2017, 10:41 am
#9
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Join Date: Dec 2009
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I also decided to visit the business lounge, as I had time to spare. The main floor was very crowded:
There was another floor upstairs:
This floor, conversely, was completely empty.
There were some relaxation chairs that went almost completely flat:
And plenty of seating:
The buffet downstairs was almost identical to the First Class lounge:
Overall, these lounges were highly impressive - I think they were opened just a few weeks prior. To have hot food options in China is a rarity, mind you even a climate-controlled space isn’t standard. Furthermore having a separated area for First class was not expected. All these factors gave China Eastern an edge over the other Chinese airlines I have flown.
There was another floor upstairs:
This floor, conversely, was completely empty.
There were some relaxation chairs that went almost completely flat:
And plenty of seating:
The buffet downstairs was almost identical to the First Class lounge:
Overall, these lounges were highly impressive - I think they were opened just a few weeks prior. To have hot food options in China is a rarity, mind you even a climate-controlled space isn’t standard. Furthermore having a separated area for First class was not expected. All these factors gave China Eastern an edge over the other Chinese airlines I have flown.
Jan 21, 2017, 11:22 am
#10
Join Date: May 2009
Location: SIN (with a bit of ZRH sprinkled in)
Posts: 9,449
Thanks for the good start - very interested read.
I'm often flying domestic and int in/out of China, and I've to say that the lounge offering in many airports have improved from "not/barely acceptable" to "decent/pretty good", or even outright fine. NKG and XIY have made tremendous improvements, for example, making their domestic lounge offerings perfectly acceptable (even on a cheap Y fare with status)
I'm looking forward for your flight report.
I'm often flying domestic and int in/out of China, and I've to say that the lounge offering in many airports have improved from "not/barely acceptable" to "decent/pretty good", or even outright fine. NKG and XIY have made tremendous improvements, for example, making their domestic lounge offerings perfectly acceptable (even on a cheap Y fare with status)
I'm looking forward for your flight report.
Jan 21, 2017, 12:29 pm
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: YYC - not the centre of the universe
Programs: AC*S100K 1MM, LH FTL, Hyatt Globalist, Accor Plat
Posts: 4,768
When it was time to board, a representative would come up personally and let you know, however no further escort was provided. Getting to the gate was easy enough, and indeed the flight was boarding when we arrived.
The Sky Priority line-up was enforced, though since we arrived during boarding I cannot say if there was a separate call for First class.
In the line-up, we stood behind a pilot for China Eastern - it seemed he was going home.
At the boarding podium, one of the stubs was taken off our boarding passes.
One floor down, there was another check, where the other stub was torn off, along with the confiscation of all liquids.
There were two jet bridges attached, though First and Business shared the one attached to door L1.
We were warmly greeted at the door by the flight attendants and accompanied to our seats. The cabin made a positive impression, being very spacious with the empty space of the missing row one middle seats.
At our seat, the tray table was out and nicely prepared, with the menu and wine list, welcome card, and a hot towel.
In the ottoman, there were slippers, pyjamas, and a Salvatore Ferragamo amenity kit, all nicely arranged.
The Sky Priority line-up was enforced, though since we arrived during boarding I cannot say if there was a separate call for First class.
In the line-up, we stood behind a pilot for China Eastern - it seemed he was going home.
At the boarding podium, one of the stubs was taken off our boarding passes.
One floor down, there was another check, where the other stub was torn off, along with the confiscation of all liquids.
There were two jet bridges attached, though First and Business shared the one attached to door L1.
We were warmly greeted at the door by the flight attendants and accompanied to our seats. The cabin made a positive impression, being very spacious with the empty space of the missing row one middle seats.
At our seat, the tray table was out and nicely prepared, with the menu and wine list, welcome card, and a hot towel.
In the ottoman, there were slippers, pyjamas, and a Salvatore Ferragamo amenity kit, all nicely arranged.
Jan 21, 2017, 12:42 pm
#12
Join Date: May 2009
Location: SIN (with a bit of ZRH sprinkled in)
Posts: 9,449
Looks good. That "absolutely no liquids" rule exists only for flights to the US, and imho the Chinese carriers are enforcing it, while most others take their chances (it's a US enforced rule that has been, since a while, kinda abolished, but they take is very serious)
Jan 21, 2017, 1:43 pm
#13
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: LON, PDX
Programs: DL PM, AS MVP 75K, HH/SPG/MR Gold, Amex Plat, PRG, CSR
Posts: 2,064
Very intrigued by this review! Keep up the good work!
I flew MU FRA-PVG last year in Y and it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. Very clean, and better food than Air France Y. The A330 reverse herringbone J looked great, can't comment on the soft product. Very interested to see 1st!
I flew MU FRA-PVG last year in Y and it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. Very clean, and better food than Air France Y. The A330 reverse herringbone J looked great, can't comment on the soft product. Very interested to see 1st!